MiniDisc system was announced by Sony in September 1992 and released that November for sale in Japan and in December in Europe, Canada, the USA and other countries.
The first three brands to place on the market the blank were Sony, TDK, Maxell, in that order.
Simultaneously with the presentation of the player-recorders, Sony presented the magneto optical media; as you can see in photo, on the left the first product support, with the shutter on the left while on the right the "definitive" version of the md that was subsequently produced for about 20 years, with the shutter at the right.
I find no reason for changing the position of the shutter between the first and second series, likely to be carried out in a few months – weeks.
A note; on the user manual of Sony Mz-1 shows an image of the minidisc with the shutter on the right.
It is possible that the mds products with the shutter on the left have been a production error and have been placed on the market too?
The color of the md is a "neutral" pearl gray, probably to give a professional look to the new media, in fact, that same year the Sony cassette produced with a more casual design and less severe.
Even the cases of minidisc was showing the same professional features; a transparent front surface through which power see the titles and a back of a darker grey on which attach the adhesive with the song list.
The opening to be able to extract the minidisc is not yet final "Sony" that would have accompanied throughout the production the minidisc sony apart from very few exceptions.
It should be noted that this pattern of md was produced only in duration of 60 minutes; Sony has always been closely linked to the length of registration; the latest models from 60 min were produced by Sony and TDK at the turn of 2003 and then not be marketed.
Year 1993
Only the following year, in 1993, major producers of audio media came forth with their products; were presented with duration of 60 and 74 minutes.
The production of alternatives to blank Sony began with the Maxell with model MD-MR and TDK with MD-XG.
I much prefer the TDK aesthetically; is the first fully transparent shell and looks less "bleak" than the Maxell.
On top the first TDK minidisc, with reverse shutter as Sony, only in 60 min.
Sony in 1993 released its 74 minutes, the MDW-93 and later with the Sony Basic, name reused later.
Undoubtedly, with the Basic Sony began using the shell as a palette; Basic, in its simplicity, it's nice.
In the picture you can see also the case with the inverted V-shaped opening that will remain constant throughout the production of Sony's blank apart from very rare cases.
Sony color collection 1° series
In 1994, Sony present the first Sony "colors"; a series that has accompanied the manufacture of Sony in myriad variations.
I own only two colors, red and blue; they were also produced in yellow and green.
Unfortunately I have no news about the cases and either of label.
Sony MDW-a
The production of colourful, funny, mds has probably pushed the Sony, between 1994 and 1995, to integrate production with a new model of mds with a more "professional" shell, the Sony MDW-a; in my opinion, one of the worst designs ever produced.
As you can see in the photo, the cases and the stickers are different for the model 60 and 74 minutes.
The cases change the color of the shell back to a color no longer black but dark gray.
Maxell classic colors, Maxell colors, TDK colors
This novelty of colored shell was soon appreciated by Maxell and TDK who introduced their models into production the following year.
The Maxell was the first to produce 5 different colors while the TDK, following the Sony, produced only 4 colors.
Note the case of TDK colors, finally abandoned the black rear, replaced with a light gray.
Axia
In those early years of production, the Axia produced these two models; the MDa by 60 / 74 min and MDs from 74 minutes; the MDa has a beautiful color petrol blue dark.
The oblique pattern on minidisc MDs resumes that already exist on music cassettes of Axia.
Other brand follow the new color as you can see in the photo below.
In the photo below you can see MDa 74 min.
ln 1995 other manufacturers have marketed the blank, as Victor (JVC) and Konica.
As you can see in this photo, Axia, Konica, Victor presented three different blanks74; the only difference between them is the shutter with the logo of the brand.
